"Let this be a lesson to all of you—stay away from trash like Glenda Cox. Understood?"
Mom walked up to me and slapped me hard across the face.
"What have I always taught you? A woman should have self-respect and dignity. How could you sink so low as to become someone's bedmate?"
Eric sneered. "I'm guessing this fake 'Mr. Sanchez' is just one of many clients she services."
"You have no idea the kind of damage a 'Number 36 Princess' can do!"
"If you don't mind me asking—what's your rate for one night?"
The words were designed to humiliate, and they worked. The relatives erupted in laughter.
Anne pounded her fists playfully against Eric's chest, her voice coy. "Why are you asking my sister her rates? Thinking of placing an order yourself?"
Eric slid his hand around Anne's waist in front of everyone. "Never. You're the only little temptress I want."
The display made my stomach lurch. I gagged.
Anne's voice turned cold. "Oh my—is my sister pregnant?"
I swallowed the pain, grabbed the feather duster from Dad's hand, and hurled it across the room. "Enough! Dad, you were hitting me that hard—were you trying to kill me?"
"If you actually beat me to death, that respectable career of yours goes up in smoke too!"
The words landed. Dad's grip went slack, his arm dropping to his side. The only thing left in his eyes was disgust—all of it aimed at me.
I turned to Eric and his weasel face. My voice was ice. "Save the slander for the police."
I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth and swept my gaze across every gawking relative in the room. "Oh, and by the way—every word you all just hurled at me? I recorded it."
"When the verdict comes down and you're looking at jail time, don't come crying to me."
The color drained from their faces. The tone shifted instantly, voices turning saccharine. "Glenda, sweetheart, we were only looking out for you! Trying to set you straight! How can you repay our kindness like this?"
"What kind of man has Anne brought home? Does he even have real evidence? Don't drag us all down with you!"
Eric snatched my phone from my hand and killed the call to the police. "Calling the cops during New Year's? That's terrible luck. You want to curse everyone here with bad fortune?"
Anne burst into tears. "I don't want bad luck! This is my third time taking the IELTS—I have to get accepted to study abroad!"
Study abroad.
The words hit me like a shockwave. I turned slowly toward my parents. Both of them looked panicked.
Dad spoke first. "You know our financial situation. Between you and Anne, we can only afford to send one of you overseas."
My voice came out hoarse. "But I earned my admission to Imperial College London three years ago. You talked me out of it. You said it was too dangerous for a girl to go abroad alone. You said something had come up with the family finances and you couldn't afford to send me."
"I gave it up. It nearly destroyed me, but I gave it up and stayed by your side. And now you're promising to send Anne—who hasn't even passed the IELTS?"
Anne put on a remorseful face. "I'm sorry, sis. When you got into Imperial College London back then, I was so jealous. I told Mom and Dad I wanted to go abroad too."
"I never expected them to talk you out of going."
"They probably just figured you're so talented, you'd succeed no matter what!"
"I mean, look at you—you even excelled as a KTV princess. You managed to reel in a fake Mr. Sanchez and everything."
I couldn't hold back. My hand flew before I could think, and the slap cracked across her face.
Mom pulled Anne into her arms and unleashed on me.
"Glenda Cox! She's your sister! How dare you lay a hand on her? Giving up your spot abroad was YOUR FATHER'S decision and MINE! It had nothing to do with Anne!"
Dad hit me back—returning the slap on Anne's behalf. "I'm more convinced than ever that making you give up was the right call!"
"Your character is rotten. Your behavior is out of control. Wherever you go, you're nothing but a disaster!"
My heart plummeted. The tears I'd been fighting finally broke free, pouring down my face in a flood I couldn't stop.
